Reorganization of Office of Coastal Protection and Restoration to speed coastal aid

Garret GravesThe new head of the state Office of Coastal Protection and Restoration said he's reorganizing the agency because the state can no longer afford the time it takes to battle through a bureaucracy in dealing with coastal restoration and protection projects.

Steve Mathies was hired in August as the office's executive director.

The Office of Coastal Protection and Restoration is responsible for design and construction of coastal restoration and levee projects at the direction of the policy-oriented state Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority.

Garret Graves, director of the Governor's Office of Coastal Activities, tells The Advocate the authority was formed as a means to integrate coastal restoration projects and coastal protection projects.